The Only Email List Building Guide You Need as a Blogger

You spent three hours writing that blog post. It got 47 views, two likes, and zero comments. Sound familiar?

Meanwhile, your friend who started blogging after you just launched her second course to an email list of 2,000 people. She’s making more in one launch than you made all last year. The difference? She treats her email list like the business asset it actually is.

I see you thinking you’ll “get to email marketing later” once you hit some magical follower milestone. But real talk: I started my email list with 12 blog readers and a dream. That tiny list is now the backbone of my business, driving more revenue than all my social media combined.

Social media can disappear overnight (hello, algorithm changes), but your email list? That’s YOUR audience that you own, control, and can reach whenever you want. No algorithm decides if your message gets delivered.

Ready to turn those blog visitors into loyal subscribers who actually buy from you? Let’s fix this today.

Why Email Marketing for Bloggers Is Non-Negotiable

Pinterest might drive traffic to your blog, but email marketing is what converts that traffic into paying customers. Here’s the breakdown:

Social media posts last hours. Email marketing campaigns? They work for months through smart email automation and strategic email sequences that nurture relationships while you sleep.

The average blogger makes $0.10 per page view. But with email list growth? You can make money blogging at $1-3 per subscriber per month. Do the math—that’s a game-changer for your blog strategy.

Your blog readers are already interested in your content. Now you need to give them a reason to stick around beyond that single post. That’s where your email marketing strategy comes in.

How to Start an Email List (Even if You Have Zero Subscribers)

I’ve you’ve been wanting to create an email list but have no idea where to start. Follow these steps to help you start your mailing list.

Step 1: Choose Your Email Marketing Platform

Not all email marketing platforms are created equal, especially for bloggers. Here’s what you need:

Flodesk (my ride-or-die recommendation): Unlimited subscribers, gorgeous email design templates, and seamless automation. Perfect for bloggers who want their newsletters to look as good as their blog posts.

Other solid options: Kit for advanced email automation, Mailchimp for beginners, but honestly? Flodesk’s design capabilities and flat pricing make it the clear winner for content creators.

Save this tip for later: Whatever platform you choose, make sure it offers email sequences and automation. You’ll thank me later.

Step 2: Create an Irresistible Email Opt-In

Your email opt-in ideas need to solve a specific problem your blog readers have. Generic “subscribe for updates” doesn’t cut it anymore.

High-converting email opt-in ideas for bloggers:

• Checklists related to your blog niche
• Email courses (3-5 days work perfectly)
• Resource libraries with your best blog content
• Templates that complement your blog posts
• Exclusive blogging tips not available on your blog

The key? Make it feel like a no-brainer trade. Your freebie should be so good that NOT downloading it feels like a mistake.

Step 3: Set Up Your Email Welcome Sequence

This is where most bloggers drop the ball. You get someone to subscribe, then… crickets.

Your email sequence should:

• Deliver your promised freebie immediately
• Introduce yourself and your blog’s mission
• Share your best blog content
• Tell your story (people subscribe to people, not brands)
• Make a soft offer if you have products or services

Length: 5-7 emails over 2 weeks works perfectly for most bloggers.

Email Best Practices That Actually Move the Needle

Here are some email best practices you want to keep in mind when starting your email list:

Write Subject Lines That Get Opened

• “The blogging mistake that’s killing your traffic.”
• “5 tools for bloggers I wish I’d found sooner.”
• “This blog strategy doubled my income in 3 months.”

Keep it curiosity-driven but not clickbait-y. Your subscribers should know what they’re getting.

Design Emails That Get Read

Your newsletter design doesn’t need to be Pinterest-perfect, but it should be on-brand and easy to scan. Use:

• Short paragraphs (mobile-friendly)
• Subheadings to break up text
• One clear call-to-action per email
• Your brand colors and fonts

Content That Converts

Every email should provide value first, sell second. Share:

• Behind the scenes of your blogging journey
• Lessons learned from blogging mistakes
• Tool recommendations with honest reviews
• Sneak peeks of upcoming blog posts

The Biggest Email Marketing Mistakes Bloggers Make

Mistake #1: Waiting until you have “enough” blog traffic. Start now, even with 10 visitors a day.

Mistake #2: Boring subject lines that scream “delete me.” Be specific and benefit-focused.

Mistake #3: No clear content marketing strategy connecting your blog to your emails. Every blog post should mention your email list.

Mistake #4: Irregular sending schedule. Pick weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly and stick to it.

Mistake #5: All give, no ask. Your subscribers want to support you—make offers!

Turn Your Blog Into an Email List Building Machine

Every blog post is an opportunity to grow your email list. Here’s how:

Content upgrades: Create specific email opt-in freebies for your most popular blog posts. Writing about Pinterest? Offer a Pinterest template. Sharing blogging tips? Create a checklist.

Strategic placement: Your email opt-in should appear:

• In your blog header
• Within your blog posts (after the introduction)
• At the end of every post
• In your sidebar
• On a dedicated landing page

Call-to-action language that works:

• “Save yourself hours with this free checklist.”
• “Get the templates I use in my own business.”
• “Join 1,000+ bloggers getting weekly tips.”

Your Email Marketing Action Plan

Ready to build an email list that actually makes you money? Here’s your step-by-step plan:

1. This week: Choose your email marketing platform and set up your account
2. Week 2: Create your lead magnet (keep it simple—one valuable PDF beats nothing)
3. Week 3: Write your 5 welcome email sequence
4. Week 4: Add opt-in forms to your blog and publish your first newsletter

The biggest blogging mistake you can make is treating email list building like a “nice to have” instead of the business essential it actually is.

Haven’t Started Building Your Email List Yet?

Start your FREE 14-day trial of Flodesk right here and save 50% off your first year! Flodesk makes it drop-dead easy to create gorgeous emails that actually convert—with unlimited subscribers and sends, so you never get penalized for growing your list. If you’ve been on the fence! On 2nd September, Flodesk announced that unlimited is going away on 28th November, which means you still have time to sign up for unlimited emails and subscribers!

Plus, grab my FREE Email Subject Line Ideas PDF with 50 plug-and-play attention-grabbing subject lines that boost open rates. Match them to your niche and watch your email engagement soar.

Ready to turn your blog readers into paying customers? Your email list is waiting, and honestly, so is your bank account.

Which tip will you implement first? Share this post with a blogger friend who needs to see this—because we all deserve to make money from our hard work.